Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum / by Etienne de Besançon

CCCCVIII.
Iudex sine causa reum absoluere non debet.

Cesarius tellis of a bisshop þat was a holie man̛ & a devowte, and on̛ a tyme in þe Lentren̛ he red owr̛ his psalter, and when̛ he come at þis place in his psalter, " Quis loquetur potentias Domini, auditas [faciet] omnes laudes eius? [This comes after: Confitemini Domino, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius.] " sodanly ane of his iustis come in vnto hym̛ and askid̛ hym̛ what he sulde do with a man̛ þat had done a grete cryme & a trispas. And þis bisshopp̛ was fuƚƚ of mercie and bad hym̛ spare hym̛ for þe holie tyme. And with þat þe Iustis turnyd̛ agayn̛ purposyng to lat hym̛ go. And þe bisshop red on̛ on̛ þe psalter þer he lefte, & onone he fande þis verce, " Beati qui custodiunt iudicium et faciunt iusticiam in omni tempore, et c̛." And with þis he was flayed̛ as he had bene resond̛ be almighti God. And onone he garte caƚƚ þis iustis agayn̛ &

said̛ vnto hym̛; "Serche diligentlie þe cauce & deme hym̛ rightwuslie." And so be þe voyce of þe prophett he þat was giltie loste his lyfe.